Friday, January 9, 2015

JUSTICE UNDONE

What do we say/do when the justice system fails? When a heinous crime goes unpunished in large part due the incompetence of those responsible for investigating crime. Chrissy Predham Newman, 28, was found in a pool of blood with her throat slashed in the basement apartment she shared with
her 16-month-old daughter. Her body was found in her Airport Heights apartment in St. John’s on Jan. 21, 2007. She had been viciously stabbed. Her husband, Ray Newman was arrested and charged with murder in June 2009 following a 2 1/2-year police investigation.

After years of pre-trial hearings, the defense was successful in having almost all the evidence gathered in
the police investigation excluded. Newman was acquitted.

The prosecution left with little evidence remaining and no likelihood of conviction, began the process of appealing the decision to throw-out the evidence.Two years later, The Court of Appeal dismissed the Crown's appeal. Today, the Crown Prosecutor's Office announced that it will not apply for another appeal. The acquittal of Ray Newman stands.

Newman maintained his innocence from the start. His deceased wife had
filed divorce papers just days before she was slaughtered. The nightmare
for Predham's family which began with the news their daughter had been
murdered, was followed by a
legal dispute with Newman over who had the right to bury Ms.
Newman's remains.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary bungled the investigation. Their violations of the accused Charter Rights forced the courts to throw out the incriminating evidence because, as Justice Adams said, "the negative impact
its admission would have on the repute of the administration of
justice." In dismissing the evidence that led to the acquittal, he said there was" "egregious, flagrant and
deliberate violations of his Charter rights"People are charged with crimes all the time. They are presumed innocent until such a time as they are found found guilty. That is our justice system.I can not help but empathize with the family of Predham. There has been no justice in this case. The person who brutally murdered Chrissy is free and at large. This is horrific. I can’t muster any other words.